IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 358 

Welcoming the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee’s inscription of the San 

Antonio Missions to the World Heritage list, recognizing the San Antonio 

Missions as having universal historical and cultural significance, and 

congratulating the people of San Antonio for their years of hard work 

to make this designation a reality. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 10, 2015 

Mr. CASTRO of Texas (for himself, Mr. SMITH of Texas, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. 

CUELLAR, and Mr. HURD of Texas) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Welcoming the United Nations Educational, Scientific and 

Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee’s inscription of the San Antonio Missions to the 

World Heritage list, recognizing the San Antonio Missions as having universal historical and cultural significance, and congratulating the people of San Antonio 

for their years of hard work to make this designation 

a reality. 

Whereas, on July 7, 2015, the World Heritage Committee of 

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural 

Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the San Antonio MisVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Jul 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR358.IH HR358

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•HRES 358 IH 

sions as a World Heritage site at the 39th Session of the 

World Heritage Convention in Bonn, Germany; 

Whereas San Antonio’s 18th century Spanish colonial missions, Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission San 

Jose, Mission Concepcion, and Mission San Antonio de 

Valero (the Alamo), are a unique concentration of structures representative of the Spanish colonial influence in 

the United States; 

Whereas the San Antonio Missions World Heritage site includes over 80 structures, including a historical ranch 

(Rancho de las Cabras), granaries, acquilas, and churches; 

Whereas the city of San Antonio developed around the Missions, and Mission Espada, Mission San Juan, Mission 

San Jose, and Mission Concepcion are active Catholic 

parishes with regular services; 

Whereas the San Antonio Missions are a historical and cultural treasure not only for San Antonio and Texas, but 

for the entire country; 

Whereas the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park 

was established in 1978 and began operation in 1983; 

Whereas the World Heritage Committee designates places 

around the world for recognition as having outstanding 

historical, artistic, scientific, or natural value; 

Whereas the United States proposed the World Heritage concept to the international community, and became the first 

country to sign the United Nations World Heritage Treaty in 1973 when the United States Senate ratified the 

treaty by a vote of 95–0; 


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•HRES 358 IH 

Whereas the World Heritage list includes 1,031 sites globally, 

including the Egyptian Pyramids, the Great Wall of 

China, and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef; 

Whereas the San Antonio Missions are the first World Heritage sites in Texas and the 23rd in the United States, 

which includes the Statue of Liberty, the Grand Canyon, 

and Yellowstone National Park; 

Whereas a diverse group of local entities supported the San 

Antonio Mission’s designation for years, including the 

San Antonio Conservation Society, the Archdiocese of 

San Antonio, the San Antonio River Authority, the National Parks Conservation Association, Los Compadres de 

San Antonio Missions, Bexar County, the city of San Antonio, and the National Parks Service; 

Whereas designation as a World Heritage site fills the people 

of Texas with pride, and will be a tremendous benefit to 

the local San Antonio economy; 

Whereas an economic impact study on the designation estimated a 10-year impact of $44,000,000 to over 

$100,000,000 in additional economic activity, and more 

than 1,000 additional jobs; and 

Whereas the city of San Antonio and entire State of Texas 

embrace and cherish this designation: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives wel2 comes the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cul3 tural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Commit4 tee’s inscription of the San Antonio Missions to the World 

5 Heritage list, recognizes the San Antonio Missions as hav6 ing universal historical and cultural significance, and conVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:05 Jul 10, 2015 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR358.IH HR358

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•HRES 358 IH 

1 gratulates the people of San Antonio for their years of 

2 hard work to make this designation a reality. 

Æ 


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